NatWest CC Travel Insurance -v- Nationwide card usage and seperate Travel Policy

Omega_1

In view of the 'Loading Charges' and the adverse exchange rates we understand NatWest (and others) hit us with -am trying to work out the best way around the problem. Am going overseas shortly and can forsee £4000 being spent on accomodation and car hire etc - I can use the Complimentary Travel Insurance policy with my Nat West card and to qualify for this have to book all flights, accomodation etc on their card. In view of their adverse Loading Charges and the exchange rates they convert at - would it be better to use my Nationwide CC and take out a separate Travel Policy - whose good at figuring my problem out please ?

cmc_entertainment

plues i dont think nationwide charge for using abroad anyway

[Deleted User]

2.75% of 4k is £110 - suspect you can get a good travel policy for that - there are probably some comparison sites mentioned on Martin's site or https://www.insureandgo.com is reasonable and paid out quickly when I had a claim a couple of years' ago.

No_6

You would save even more money
by getting a 0% purchase card,
Marbles, Sky Card etc for 12+ months etc.

Pay it in full, when due, with money saved in a
high interest account.

6

Astaroth

I dont know which card you have but I know when I was abroad I put 2 transactions through, one on Natwest CC other on Nationwide for exactly the same amount on the same day and the amount charged to my CC account was less on the natwest card than it was on the nationwide

Have to say I have never looked at the CC free insurance as my current account with them also gives free insurance which is perfectly adequate for my needs and much better than the free insurance I got with a previous credit card which wouldnt have been sufficient

Omega_1

Thank you my friend and pleased to see you always available for assistance ! I have a NatWest Gold and a Nationwide Classic. It was an interesting observation on your comparison between the two on a similar exchange rate conversion. Am looking at the S.A. Rand. However, taking the exchange rate conversion out of the formula there is always the Natwest 'loading' charge to consider and as our friend anactuary pointed out this is a lot of money towards an independant travel insurance policy.

Astaroth

I find my situation with Natwest to be confusing as I have their premier current account and a linked gold credit card - their website is very confusing over what I get from which as I believe the c/a affects the cc - I just happened to use the natwest cc by mistake whilst I was in Sri Lanka and the total cost of the natwest transaction was about £150 and the Nationwide one was £153. Only a couple of percent difference but given everyones promotion of the nationwide card I was surprised - I cannot however say what the reason is and if it had anything to do with the premier account or not.

King_Of_Fools

If you purchase the flights and accommodation beforehand in the UK you would be paying in pounds and so it would make more sense to pay with the NatWest card.

Omega_1

All arrangements done through a very efficient SA agency so paying in Rands where Nationwide should come into its own here. Then find flight travel agent (travel5live) gone bust this week and costing me another £450 for same seats on same flight via carrier - will see what Gold Card credit my account with !